Condom company fined for using French town's name

September 06, 2012|Reuters

BORDEAUX, Sept 6 (Reuters) - A maker of condoms purported tobe from the town of Condom in southwestern France has beenordered to pay 10,000 euros ($12,600) for false advertisingafter the provenance of its prophylactics was found to beMalaysia.

"The Original Condom Company" advertised its condoms ascoming from the picturesque forested town on the river Baise.

However a court in the city of Bordeaux has ordered thefirm, run by two Frenchmen, to remove references to the townfrom its advertising, as only an unoccupied address could befound there.

Condom's mayor, Bernard Gallardo, said the town of about7,000 residents has "other advantages" to boast of, besides itsname that for years has famously caused English-speakingtourists to stop and pose for photos next to its main sign.

"We're not going to hide our heads in the sand, we won'tprevent people from making a link with the name. But retreatinginto such notoriety can only compromise the tourism qualities ofthe town," Gallardo told Reuters, citing its gastronomy and oldmansions.

Unfortunately for the town, Francophile tourists passingthrough might also snigger at the name of the local river, whichis French for the activity for which condoms are intended.